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Sustainability, Energy and Water Conservation Report

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The Architect of the Capitol releases an annual energy report to highlight efforts to reduce energy use. As stewards of the U.S. Capitol and as a legislative agency, the AOC is required to meet annual reductions in energy consumption and report annual progress. The annual energy report was created to inform Congress and the American people of the AOC’s progress on meeting its efficiency goals as well as its further commitments to sustainability and water efficiency. It includes details on the AOC’s approach, achievements, and areas identified for future progress.

Message from the Architect of the Capitol

The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is committed to sustainability. Since 2005, we have invested more than $90 million in infrastructure upgrades and identified $80 million in energy savings. As caretakers of the nation’s most significant buildings, preservation and sustainability are part of our core services.

During Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, the Washington, D.C., metro area experienced the coldest January through April weather in more than 10 years. The weather drastically impacted our agency's fuel use and, consequently, energy performance. In response to the heating demand, our teams formulated an energy recovery plan to increase the U.S. Capitol Power Plant's efficiencies and streamline building operations.

Despite the cold weather, we were able to maintain a 25.5 percent energy reduction, narrowly missing our goal of 27 percent. Looking ahead, the agency is positioning itself to act faster, smarter and more efficiently. We learned the importance of aggressively monitoring daily energy use at a granular level. In FY 2015, our teams will perform at higher levels to effectively reduce the AOC's energy use by 30 percent by the end of the fiscal year.

One of the projects I'm most excited about is the use of a new data mining system that facilitates real-time action on operational deficiencies. The project is already producing energy conservation results.

We will continue to prioritize investment projects that support not only our major initiatives but also our bottom line. As the designers, builders and conservators of some of our most important cultural assets, it is our obligation and privilege to continue to strengthen the nation's historic spaces for future generations by making them more sustainable and efficient.

With this, our ninth report to Congress and the public, I'm proud to say that we have created a more efficient campus and managed tax dollars effectively. Entering into the final year for reporting on the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the AOC's targets for improving its energy and sustainability performance are ambitious. I remain steadfast in my convictions that the agency will be successful in meeting its FY 2015 goals.